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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To take a bigger council house than we need?

999 replies

isthisunreasonable · 15/01/2013 10:11

Have namechanged for this as it's pretty obvious who I am if you know me...

We currently have a two bedroom house (3 children) and we can fir just about but it's a squeeze. We are "entitled" (cringe) to a 3 bed house but it's likely to be 4-5 yrs by the time we would be offered one so placed our details on the Housing Association's "mutual exchange" site. We have also said we are happy to take a 2 bedroom house with separate dining room to use as the 3rd bedroom.

Have been contact by someone via our housing association's "mutual exchange" list. They have a large 4 bed house with a dining room and massive garden and they want to downsize (older couple all kids left home) and would like our house.

Given that is is bigger than we actually need . Part of me thinks it should go to a family with 5/6 kids but part of me thinks this couple are looking for a mutual exchange to downsize to a 2 bed house, what's the chance of them fining such a large family in a 2 bed house that they want.

It would be fabulous for us of course, lots of space for everyone, kids could have their own bedrooms and a nice big garden to play and we wouldn't have to move again when we have more children (planning another 1 or 2 in next 5 years perhaps).

Would we be unreasonable to accept it?

OP posts:

Bogeyface · 17/01/2013 20:24

FFS Spam, IT IS NOT A BENEFIT!!!!

It is a house that the HA says she can live in, so she is going to live in it. Whether you agree with their policy or not is totally irrelevant. The OP is not doing anything morally or legally wrong.

As I have said before (Do I have to repeat myself?) if you dont like the system then do something about it at policy level, protest, stand for local council or government, but dont expect anyone to applaud you for slagging off one family who are simply following the rules and making a home for themselves. It makes you sound bitter and nasty, and rather pathetic that you wont actually do anything that makes a difference.

Spamspamspam · 17/01/2013 20:24

But a private renter is paying more than £500 to rent a £500,000 house.

To rent a £500,000 house in my neck of the woods would be circa £2,000 a month not £500. It sounds like the OP is very near to where I live so why is that right? She has openly admitted her circumstances have changed and could afford private renting if she went to work full time, she doesn't need a 4 bedroom detached property but she is able to get one due to this ludicrous system of allowing lifetime tenancy and receives a benefit because of it.

I could give you hundreds of young families who are desperate for that kind of break, they have young children, would be happy for a lot less than a 4 bedroomed house in a rural location, period features, massive garden but have they any hope in hell of getting it? No because there is No stock and would any council give them HB on that type of property - errm that will be a no.

Bogeyface · 17/01/2013 20:27

Getting up yesterday at 0530 to attend a meeting is something that I strongly suspect the OP has never had to do in her life.

BAsed on what evidence exactly.

And how are you funding her lifestyle choices? Are you paying her rent? Are you providing her home or paying for her kids? No.

HA are non profit making, the rent covers their costs and they are not, contrary to the popular belief on this thread, subsidized.

Bogeyface · 17/01/2013 20:28

Again, repeating myself, there is no such thing as a lifetime tenancy anymore.

And you are ashamed of the OP Pink? Why on earth would you be ashamed of her?! What a ludicrous to say :o

BelieveInPink · 17/01/2013 20:29

Where does the money come from to fund HA properties?

Spamspamspam · 17/01/2013 20:29

Bogey of course it is a benefit.

They are benefiting from cheaper housing, they benefit where others don't - its a benefit.

Wallison · 17/01/2013 20:30

The OP is funding the cost of providing her with a home, by working. You aren't funding anything, or supporting anyone's 'lifestyle choices'. The money she is paying in rent goes back into public coffers, so actually she is contributing more than you to society by paying her rent and living in a council flat which, as has been repeatedly pointed out, is not the same as receiving any benefits.

BelieveInPink · 17/01/2013 20:31

The OP said she had a house for life. I believed her, but I stand corrected Bogey.

aufaniae · 17/01/2013 20:32

maisiejoe123

"To have as many children as she wishes and to allow us to fund this lifestyle choice"

How on earth are you funding the OP?

Until she moves out of council housing, it's more likely she's is funding you!

She is paying her rent with her wages, this is a significant contribution (on an individual level) to the public purse. Your rent or mortgage on the other hand does not go into the public purse.

You are not subsidising her in any way!

The council has been making money by renting a house to her. It is not a benefit!

You should be thanking her for her contribution to the public purse if anything, not feeling that you're subsidising her, that's totally false.

Bogeyface · 17/01/2013 20:32

I benefit from cheaper housing where others dont, should I move too?

Pink try reading its ever so good! The RENT (thats the money that people pay to live in the house) funds the properties and some get income from trusts too.

Spamspamspam · 17/01/2013 20:32

Bogey of course they are subsidsed.

HA properties are usually subsidised by the profit on other private properties on the development that is being built. All Developers have to create a certain percentage of social housing, they don't sell those ones but make a bigger profit on the percentage they sell meaning they keep a few back, achieve peppercorn rent which usually covers maintenance, ground rent, insurance and the like.

Bogeyface · 17/01/2013 20:33

Hiding this, fed up with the "oh woe is me" bullshit.

Spamspamspam · 17/01/2013 20:33

Believe - she does have a tenancy for life.

Newer families applying might not but in this case the OP has a long term tenancy.

Wallison · 17/01/2013 20:34

^ Where does the money come from to fund HA properties?

Rent receipts. Some councils also have a stream of govt funding but actually the amount that councils as a whole across the country receive in rent that is over and above what is needed is over £100m a year, which goes back to the Treasury. So council tenants are actually net contributors to the economy. This has been explained a couple of times now.

BelieveInPink · 17/01/2013 20:34

Bogey, try not being a patronising fucking arsehole. I asked a genuine question.

maisiejoe123 · 17/01/2013 20:35

Bogey - we clearly dont know the OP but realistically someone is playing the system here. The sooner they stop this entitlement to having more and more bedrooms and life time tenancy the better.

As I have said before - if I lost my job, or worse I would have to move. Full stop. Why is it competely different for others. And what is an elderly couple doing in a bed house when then council stock is so low. That is what is stopping movement of council houses! And wasnt there some talk about council house tennants being allowed to pass on their tennacy to their children. Complete madness. There would then be a complete block on anyone moving anywhere.

And someone is funding this. If her partner is working and she is working part time if she wanted to live in £500k property around here as another said - we are talking about £2500-£3000 per month. Are you really telling me this family are paying this sort of rent....

BelieveInPink · 17/01/2013 20:36

Thank you, Wallison.

expatinscotland · 17/01/2013 20:38

'All Developers have to create a certain percentage of social housing, they don't sell those ones but make a bigger profit on the percentage they sell meaning they keep a few back, achieve peppercorn rent which usually covers maintenance, ground rent, insurance and the like. '

No, they don't. Only if their planned development contains over a certain number of homes.

Wallison · 17/01/2013 20:40

^ And someone is funding this.

Yes, the OP. Not you. The OP is, as well as paying tax on her earnings, paying £500 pcm into the public purse. She is actually therefore contributing quite a lot. Your tax money doesn't go anywhere near her.

expatinscotland · 17/01/2013 20:41

'And what is an elderly couple doing in a bed house when then council stock is so low. That is what is stopping movement of council houses! '

Well, the government has exempted OAPs from all new rules regarding social housing.

Spamspamspam · 17/01/2013 20:41

"Woe is me bullshit"

REALLY???? - that is the most hypocritical post on here and there are a few contenders but this is absolutely stunning - brilliant it couldn't be scripted if you tried.

aufaniae · 17/01/2013 20:41

"All Developers have to create a certain percentage of social housing"

I think this requirement is something the Tories have done away with, isn't it?

Original poster

isthisunreasonable · 17/01/2013 20:42

Getting up yesterday at 0530 to attend a meeting is something that I strongly suspect the OP has never had to do in her life

WTF Maisie - Why does me working part time mean that I don't get up early for meetings? Actually I work for the NHS, I am a nurse and I work some really shitty shifts, I am more than used to getting up at stupid o clock. My partner also works shift, he's a paramedic and works awful hours too! We both work damn hard and who the heck are you to say you know otherwise? Yes, I will continue to work hard and I have no reason or desire to give up work whether we have a 3 bed or a 4 bed house doesn't change that.

I guessed at the 500k (after we've done it all up), but really, that's how much houses are around her, the whole side of the county is expensive to live in, like I said a modest 3 bed terraced would cost 350k. Plus the house is a right state at the moment and will take lots of time and effort, years probably and lots of money (our own) to bring it up to a nice standard. Then when the kids are older we will downsize and another family can make use of it.

You are no more funding my "lifestyle" than myself and my partner are Maisie! If you don't like the way the social housing system works then that's fair enough but it's unreasonable to have a go at people who are given social housing tenancies!

OP posts:

maisiejoe123 · 17/01/2013 20:43

None of us know (unless I have missed something!) how much the OP's family earn. The issue with this I feel is that wanting to have 6 kids, feeling entitled to a £500k house and only work part time grates on the rest of us.

There is something wrong somewhere. So how much would a rent be on a house of this value? Is the OP funding all of the rent or is it being subsidised by someone...

expatinscotland · 17/01/2013 20:44

You are key workers, OP.

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